So anyhow, Gilbert and Garrett had met back in the Spring of '06, in much the same way any NBA all-star and suburban high school junior meet nowadays: on the Internet. Garrett, a longtime Wiz fan from Montgomery County, had come across a mention of Gilbert's Black President MySpace page. Like all of us Wiz Web aficionados, he saw the private pics of Gilbert with his daughter and friends and figured, huh, maybe this is really him.

So Garrett created a MySpace account, and messaged Gilbert, and Gilbert wrote back, and they began a correspondence about the usual stuff--Gil's charity work, the NBA playoff series Gil was currently waging with LeBron James and the Cavs, etc.

Eventually, Garrett--still not convinced that his new electronic friend was actually Gibert Arenas--asked whether they might meet in person. Gil said sure, and directed Garrett to come down to the Verizon Center for one of his summer workouts in '06.

So, as instructed, Garrett went to the arena's security office and said he was there to meet Gilbert.

"They didn't believe me," he said. "The people at security had no idea. I was kind of weirded out."

So Garrett went home, and messaged Gilbert what had happened. Gilbert said he would get it worked out, and two days later Garrett tried again. This time he was escorted down to the practice court, where the all-star guard was shooting around.

Garrett stayed for a bit, and they played video games in the players lounge, and Gilbert gave him a basketball and his new Gil Zeros--before they had been released--and that was that, since Gil had to leave for a game that night at Barry Farms.

"It was just unbelievable, kind of," Garrett said. "I mean, he's an NBA all-star, and all of the sudden I'm sitting in the players lounge talking to him. That was kind of weird. I was star struck, but at the same time, it was like talking to a friend."

So later in the summer they traded messages about Gil's experience at Team USA tryouts, and eventually Garrett got around to asking whether he might get a job as a Wiz ballboy. One day Gil wrote back to say that he had set it all up, telling Garrett to "just come down whenever," and Garrett asked for more details, which is why Gil wound up calling Garrett at school.

They talked later that night, and Garrett skipped school the next day to interview with the team, and he got the job and worked for the Wiz all last season--his senior year at Good Counsel.

His parents grew to love the Wizards, watching many of their games during dinner, and Garrett of course met all the players and got all the freebies he could want--"I've got a closet just full of shoes, I don't really know what I'm going to do with them," he said. But he doesn't really ask Gilbert for swag or autographs or anything.

"The first time I asked him for his autograph he was like, 'Why do you want this, you know me?' " Garrett said. "After that I was kind of like, 'Yeah, that's true.' "

I asked what his friends at Good Counsel thought about all this.

"I mean, they thought it was crazy," Garrett said. "It is."

Then this summer Gil needed help with his rehab, so Garrett wound up going to the arena dozens and dozens of times this summer, sometimes twice a day, shagging balls during shooting drills and running bleachers in the 400 level with Gilbert and strength coach Drew Cleary, and also helping out Andray Blatche and Roger Mason and Donell Taylor. When the Pan-American team came to town, Wiz VP Tommy Sheppard introduced Garrett to Villanova Coach Jay Wright and his staff, since Garrett was going to 'Nova.

During his first few weeks away at school, Gilbert called a couple times, just to make sure he was adjusting ok. Thanks to that introduction from Sheppard, he got a job in the Wildcats' basketball office, and some of the 'Nova players really like Gilbert, so Garrett took them to a preseason game in Philly and helped Antonio Pena score a Gilbert jersey. And Gilbert recently called, wanting Garrett to help him as he starts working on his jumper again, but Garrett couldn't make it because he's back at school.

I asked whether it didn't seem weird, that he's sort of friends with Gilbert Arenas, whom he met through MySpace as a high school junior.

"That's just his personality," Garrett said. "Obviously I'm just a little blip on his screen, he's got so many people in his life, but it's crazy how he takes time out to make sure I'm doing all right....I don't need to be some NBA superstar or a groupie. Some players have a lot of 'friends' that come to games; he's got one guy and that's about it. He's kind of a normal guy. Although he makes millions of dollars."

On the other hand: I fear one day Gilbert will show up to some place trying to prove to one of his MySpace buddies that he really is himself. But instead of finding a buddy, he finds some middle aged guy announcing, "Hi, I'm Chris Hansen from Dateline NBC."

Somehow I don't see Gil trolling the internet for underaged dates. At least I hope not.

I think we're really lucky in this town. Every team we have is full of some of the greatest personalities. Gil, Ovy, Carron, Manny, Da Meathook, Christian Gomez from the drum incident up in New York, Portis... How many other places can say they have all-stars dropping by birthdays and inviting kids down to be the ball boy who they meet online?

Good Counsel = nerd. Video games = nerd. Myspace = nerd. Ballboy = nerd. Villa-no-fun = nerd. But I'd kill to be Garrett for one of those phone calls. Congrats, buddy. If only my Good Counsel diploma could do more for me. . .

Absolutely agree, Dan! NO team is better off without Gilbert! I was touting him all of last summer before his rise from all-star to superstar! There's NO ONE more marketable than Gilbert! Not even LeBron! Okay, maybe LeBron but nobody else! lol

The best point you made in the story, and one in which is easy to forget in times like now is that no matter how well the Wizards are doing without Gilbert; you want him on your team and you want to sign him to a long term deal. He's a great guy in every context.

I'm sure Gilbert's a wonderful guy, but I don't think he helps you win many basketball games. He's pretty inefficient for a stud scorer and he's definitely not the right guy to be running the point. Of course what do I know, I just read your team's box scores.

Great story. I have talked to Garret before on myspace. We tried to meet each other at a game once, but he was busy and we didn't get to meet. I believed him when he said he worked out this past summer and man I wanted to join. That would be like a dream come true.

Wiz PR guy Daren Jenkins has a similar story about how he got his shot working with the Wiz. Rumor has it when Jenkins was about 11 yrs old ( 4 years ago) he was at a Wiz game when a short plump fellow with a disticnt mustache carrying game notes to the press knocked him over spilling all of his popcorn. the man ( Dolph Sands) helped up young jenkins offered to make him his assitant and the rest is history.

It just goes to show the person Gil is, he's a great guy who is grounded regardless of his wealth or status. I think Gil is needed on and off the court. The more I hear about the things that he does the more I think Gil is just one of us. Go Gil, come back soon.

To all the people who think Gil is on Myspace messaging underage kids for reasons other than friendship, should think again. I've personally seen Gil play one-on-one basketball with minors in his hometown of North Hollywood, California, where we're both from. He's a very friendly guy, and does not take advantage of his 'superstardom', if you will. He actually attended Grant High School and ran the backcourt with my best friend's older brother during his varsity years. One could ask his teammate running along side him in the backcourt, or any of his teammates, coaches, friends, or acquaintances for that matter; he might seem like a cocky athlete on the court, but off the court, there aren't too many people as humble as Gil.

The thing I like about Gil is, what you see is what you get. No pretenses. I will always remember how he immediately ran out and bought whatever he could with the cash he had to help the Katrina victims coming to DC. He was one of the first to do what he could and you could see the sincereity in his gesture. And the things he does for the schools in the area. I love him to death. Lebron may be the NBA's poster child, but he has no personality to me and comes off as a little arrogant and removed from us commoners. That doesn't detract from his game but he is not a player who I would like to meet. Gilbert has such a quality about him that makes him so endearing. A friend of mine that worked for the Verizon center got me a personalized autographed T-shirt. I was like too through that he would take the time to do that. I truly hope that he remains a Wizard.

I recall a similar story. Current Wizards equipment manager Rob Suller met former Bullets great Harvey Grant in an AOL chatroom back in 1997. Grant invited young Robert to The Capital Center to hang out and Robert eventually became a ball boy. Eleven years later Suller is the head man in charge. What a great story.

None of this surprises me about Gilbert Arenas. In 2002 (at least I think it was 2002), I was having dinner at a restaurant with big communal tables, and Gilbert came in after his game with the Warriors and sat down next to us. He was the most unassuming guy. He said they'd lost their game, and then he wanted to know what to order, and he just talked with us until we finished our meal...

Gilbert's for real. This is all for real. (And news -- like -- Dan, seriously, you have such a good nose for sports news.)

I know this 'cause I remember Gilbert bringing those supplies -- quietly, without publicity -- to the National Guard heardquarters for the DC Hurricane Katrina victims.

Gil's just a good guy.

I'm a season ticketholder and I went to the "meet the team" event. No press or anything. And they're calling out the players one by one. There's a cute little kid hanging over the railing, inside the tunnel almost that Gil's coming out of. Press can't see Gil and crowd (other than me, sitting next to cute kid) can't see Gil, and Gil hesitates to walk out so he can stop and sign the kid's jersey.

I yell: "Gil, you're a a sweetie!"

Hey, a la Sean Taylor and all, this story also worries me a little. If you let just anyone into your life, there are some people that will totally use you for your money. I kinda worry for Gil, too.

When I go to the games, I'm happy to see Gil there on the bench. (Although seriously, no oversized yellow shirts with charcoal-colored vests, OK? Or just generally, no shirts hanging out beyond vests/jackets/etc.)

i never thought a basketball player could be so down to earth and caring about people and being real,after reading all of this guys blogs,and the way he treats people,he should be on the top of some mvp list for all of the usa as most valuable player from any sports for his contributions to real people and on such personal levels,i mean come on who else would EVER do things like him? lol i dont see T O showing up at some kids birthday party haha.and to tell you the truth before this i just saw him as a great player,but to watch him play now feels like you kind of know the guy its pretty amazing.

Yes, I read this the first day and meant to post that Gilbert is the best. I was also thinking of how he went out to the armory to meet the hurricane Katrina displaced residents also. He has done a lot of great things in this community! Cant wait to see Agent Zero on the court! Go Gil, and Wiz!

Since coming to DC, Gil has done so many things that have helped people in some way or another. I remember reading the story about the little boy who lost his family on Christmas Day and how Gil got him a job as a ball boy, took him shopping for school and other things. It's great to have him in DC and to see him giving back to the community!